Fermentation temperature control

[Eric Friedrich] needed to keep the wort warm enough for yeast to ferment it into beer. To solve the problem he built his own fermentation temperature controler using a microprocessor to turn some heating tape on and off. You can see the heating element embracing that diminutive fermentation bucket in the picture above. This was originally meant for keeping reptile cages warm. It costs less than similar products meant just for brewing and works well for [Eric]. A DS1820 temperature sensor gives feedback to an ATmega168 which then uses a relay to switch the heat on and off. The target temperature can be changed using a potentiometer on the board, with the setting displayed on a character LCD screen on the project enclosure.

adamZ has it right, the “tradition” is that in colder months you make lagers and in the warmer months you make ales. I just make ales cause I have yet to find a lager that I really like but I don’t mind a long brew time either..

That said, usually the problem is too much heat since the only thing affected by it being too cool is brew time, however if it gets too warm you increase the chances of a lot of fusel alcohols which are typically responsible for the hangover..

I like it, nice and simple.
You mentioned the overly complicated pid + triac controllers, I made a Fuzzy Logic + triac controller for an urn and thats exactly how I described it, overly complicated.
The build is up at http://www.hownottoengineer.com under my fuzzy urn project.

@EricF i still have the initial design idea and calculations scribbled in a notebook and an overlay drawn on a prototype board in mspaint. dunno if any of its any use to you, lemme know if it is.
btw, I wasn’t trying to be snarky in my post, you’ve got a well done project.